Gambling is a big business in Colorado, with approximately $745 million in annual gambling revenue, generating around $100 million in taxes each year. Despite this, online gambling is still heavily restricted, and most of Colorado’s gambling takes place at casinos within three towns. If you’re in Colorado, you’re able to place wagers on various games, including roulette and craps, provided you’re at a licensed establishment.
All of the gambling that happens in Colorado must be licensed by the Colorado Division of Gaming in order to be legal. However, many Colorado residents have turned to offshore gambling sites in order to place bets and wager on casino games online. While these Colorado betting apps and sites aren’t legal under state law, no prosecution has ever occurred.
Casinos
Casinos have been legally allowed to operate in Colorado since 1991 before the first tribal gaming compacts were signed. However, the casinos can only operate in three towns in the state. These are Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek. The only casinos that can operate outside of these towns are the tribal casinos.
Online casinos aren’t legally allowed to accept players from Colorado. However, some players make use of sweepstake casinos and offshore casinos to play casino games online. These sites offer loads of games, including slots, blackjack, roulette, and more, allowing you to play from the comfort of your home. Sweepstake casinos are technically legal, exploiting loopholes in the law and allowing players to bet coins in exchange for prizes. Meanwhile, offshore casinos aren’t really legal, but no US players have ever been prosecuted for playing at one of these sites.
Sports betting
In November 2019, Colorado passed a proposition to allow for in-person and online sports betting throughout the state. Since that law passed, many of the state’s casinos have partnered with betting firms to bring sports betting to the Centennial State. You can now bet on sports anywhere within the state, traveling to one of the retail sportsbooks or signing into one of the online sportsbooks from your desktop or mobile.
You need to be at least 21 to place a bet in Colorado, and if you’re betting online, you’ll have to verify your ID before you can start betting. You’ll also need to be within the state borders when you place your bet, although you don’t need to be a resident of Colorado. These sportsbooks offer a wide range of betting markets across all major US sports. Whether you prefer the NFL, MLB, NBA, or soccer, there are loads of options for you to choose from.
How to open an online sportsbook account in Colorado
Opening a sportsbook account in Colorado is straightforward. There are lots of different sites out there, so you’ll first need to pick a site. Make sure that any sportsbook you choose is licensed by the Colorado Division of Gaming, as otherwise, it can’t legally accept players from CO. You should also consider the odds and betting markets offered, whether features like live betting and live streaming are available and whether there’s a decent bonus available.
Once you’ve found the right site, simply follow these steps:
1. Sign up and create your account.
2. Verify your ID to prove your age and confirm that your details are all correct.
3. Deposit funds into your account, making sure you claim the welcome bonus if it’s available.
4. Verify that you’re within the state before placing a bet.
Once you’ve followed all of these steps, you’re free to bet as much as you like. Just be sure to always bet responsibly and never bet more than you can afford to lose.
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